Reader reaction

A longtime friend sent me a reaction to some blog postings. He asked that I share it. It is copied below:

Empowering Youth is exactly the practical kind of book we are looking for involving our 9-12 students in activities that can be integrated across the curriculum. "Worksheets don't grow dendrites." These writers know how brains work. Active learners remember what they do. A veteran of 25 years of interactive teaching and learning in American literature and American history using the media, I highly recommend this text. These well planned activities lead to positive learning experiences in a positive school climate and positive messages for daily living. I am purchasing copies for all three high schools for immediate adoption consideration.

Michael W Bergen

Communicative Arts Emeritus

Appleton Area School District

Appleton, WI

mabergen@att.net

Seeking the return of school dropouts

Various media are talking again about high school dropouts especially in communities hit hard by the recession. Some of these communities like Las Vegas are seeking ways to get dropouts to return to school. How can this be done? Home visits might help. So also might new more motivating instructional models.

When dropouts believe in their ability to be successful, there is a real chance they will return to school and/or youth clubs for tutoring. The new book, "EMPOWERING YOUTH: Accessing Positive Peer Power" offers an interactive instructional model using enabling Socratic teaching/learning. The book highlights peer leadership training and critical thinking plus problem solving in small peer groups. Peers, at any age, are motivated naturally to participate in peer group interactions.

When motivated, dropouts can become successful and productive learners and citizens.

Interactive learning with technology and humans

Youth of today are avid interactive learners. Most youth have regular even daily access to smart phones and/or computers where they participate in active use of various interactive applications.

Schools, youth clubs, etc. need to catch up using both technology and human interactive learning options. "EMPOWERING YOUTH: Accessing Positive Peer Power" can help adults modernize motivating interactive instructional techniques by showing how to employ positive peer group problem solving and various interactions with enabling adults.